Coaches at several big-name college football programs were fired this year. Some were let go amid scandals, some were axed simply for failing to win enough. The first to go was UNC's Butch Davis, who was fired before the season began amid an NCAA probe of the program. (AP Photo)

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Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno's legendary career ended in a way no one could have foreseen. JoePa was fired in the aftermath of a child sex abuse scandal involving longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. (AP Photo)

After losing six consecutive games to end the year, Illinois fired coach Ron Zook. He led the program for seven years and compiled a 34-50 record. (AP Photo)

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Turner Gill

Turner Gill lasted just two seasons as head coach of Kansas. He was fired after posting a 5-19 record. (AP Photo)

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Rick Neuheisel

UCLA fired Rick Neuheisel after he led the Bruins to a 21-28 record over four seasons. (AP Photo)

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Dennis Erickson

After leading the Sun Devils to consecutive 6-6 seasons, Dennis Erickson was axed by Arizona State. (AP Photo)

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Paul Wulff

Paul Wulff was dismissed by Washington State after going 9-40 in his four seasons at the school—the worst winning percentage of any coach in the program's history.

The Cougars went 4-8 this season, doubling their win total from 2010. They were just 4-32 in conference play under Wulff.

Wulff had one year remaining on his contract and was guaranteed a year's severance pay of $600,000 if he was let go before the end of the five years.

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Mike Stoops

Arizona fired Mike Stoops on Oct. 10 after opening the season 1-5. The final straw was a loss to Oregon State, which entered that contest winless. In the Wildcats' final six games, Arizona went 3-3 to finish 4-8.

Just over a month after firing their coach, Arizona hired Rich Rodriguez to replace Stoops. Rodriguez spent the 2011 season working for CBS Sports Network after being dismissed by Michigan following the Wolverines' 2010 campaign.

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Houston Nutt

Houston Nutt was fired by Ole Miss in early November but was allowed to finish out the season. That did not end well, as the Rebels lost their remaining three games, which was part of a season-ending six-game losing streak.

The Rebels, who finished this season 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC, have lost 14 straight SEC games.

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Rob Ianello

Rob Ianello learned of his dismissal while driving with his family to attend his mother’s funeral. He finished 2-22 in two seasons at Akron. Prior to leading the Zips, Ianello was an assistant at Notre Dame.

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Larry Porter

Memphis fired Larry Porter after going 3-21 in his two seasons.

Porter's firing came just hours after a 44-7 loss at Southern Mississippi in Memphis’ season finale, leaving the Tigers 2-10 this season. Fan interest in the program has been diminishing, including an estimated 2,500 for the Tigers' home finale against Marshall on Nov. 17. That increased pressure for a change.

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Mike Locksley

Mike Locksley didn’t even make it out of September before being fired by New Mexico.

In two-plus seasons with the Lobos, Locksley was 2-26.

Locksley had been surrounded by controversy almost as soon as he became head coach three years ago. During his tenure, Locksley faced a sexual harassment suit, a suspension after he punched another coach, and, most recently, criticism after police arrested his son's friend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in an SUV registered to Locksley's wife.